Games

08/08/2010

Today we had a not-so-unusual adventure ... maybe unusual for the East coast but not for Sun Valley ... a hike and fish.

We got to talking to some young guys and they suggested a back country lake. We had been enjoying back country lakes in and around Jackson, so felt this would be a nice addition. Not many back country lakes in New England.

We drove 10 miles down a washboard dirt road to find a large parking lot with a bunch of cars... for being 10 miles down a dirt road there was a LOT of cars ... but then again, this is the West. Along the way we met various groups exiting, and asked them where they were fishing ... most replied "Fourth of July Lake" ... at which time we decide not to go there (since it suggested too many people fishing there). Well we arrived and YUP, too many people fishing ( it was Saturday). We moved on to Washington Lake ... about a mile further. We did catch fish there and we were the only people fishing on that lake.

The young fellow also mentioned that we should climb a ridge to 9800 ft to a divide that offered excellent views from a ridge ........... well ......... he was right, it was quite spectacular!

Here are some shots.

Alicia hiking around Fourth of July Lake

Washington Lake

Views from the ridge...

This is a place called Ants Basin ... very interesting back country formation

Alicia contemplating life at 9800' ... note ridgeline ... it is quite dramatic.

Fourth of July Lake as seen from the ridge ...

At 9800' the terrain turns to alpine ... in which flowers have a hard time surviving. As a result, they grow much smaller than the same plant, say at 7000'. This purple plant in about 3" high

This Indian Paintbrush is about 4" high ... lower it would be 12"or taller.

This is an Alpine Phlox ( I think) ... it is tiny, not more that 3/8" tall... surviving at 9800'

Alicia's photo - find Kevin - this is Kevin fishing at Fourth of July Lake - photo taken to show what a beautiful spot we were in. I took this while soaking my feet in a cool brook (after our hike up to the ridge line).